The 1875 Kentucky Derby was the first running of the Kentucky Derby. The race took place on May 17, 1875.[1][2] The first Kentucky Derby was a 1.5-mile race, and the traditional distance of 1.25 miles was not established until the 1896 Derby.[3] Thirteen of the fifteen jockeys in the race, including winner Oliver Lewis, were African-American.[4] Attendance was estimated at 10,000.[5]
| Kentucky Derby | |
| Grade I stakes race | |
| Location | Churchill Downs |
|---|---|
| Date | May 17, 1875 |
| Winning horse | Aristides |
| Jockey | Oliver Lewis |
| Trainer | Ansel Williamson |
| Owner | H. Price McGrath |
| Surface | Dirt |
The winner was Aristides, by two lengths. His jockey was Oliver Lewis, his trainer was Ansel Williamson, and his owner was H. Price McGrath. Aristides' half-brother and stablemate Chesapeake also ran in the race. Both Aristides' jockey and trainer were black. Aristides's time of 2 minutes and 37.75 seconds was at the time a world record for the distance.
Full results
edit| Finished | Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time / behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1 | Aristides | Oliver Lewis | Ansel Williamson | H. Price McGrath | 2:37.75 |
| 2nd | Volcano | H. Williams | George H. Rice | |||
| 3rd | Verdigris | W. Chambers | C. A. Lewis | |||
| 4th | Bob Woolley | William Walker | Robinson, Morgan & Co. | |||
| 5th | Ten Broeck | M. Kelso | Harry Colston | Frank B. Harper | ||
| 6th | Grenoble | J. Carter | Allen Bashford | |||
| 7th | Bill Bruce | M. Jones | S. J. Salyer | |||
| 8th | Chesapeake | W. Henry | H. Price McGrath | |||
| 9th | Searcher | Raleigh Colston Jr. | J. B. Rodes | |||
| 10th | Ascension | William Lakeland | William Cottrill | |||
| 11th | Enlister | Cyrus Holloway | Stringfield & Clay | |||
| 12th | McCreery | D. Jones | Gen. Abe Buford | |||
| 13th | Warsaw | Masterson | Stringfield & Clay | |||
| 14th | Vagabond | J. Houston | A.B. Lewis & Co. | |||
| 15th | Gold Mine | Stradford | James A. Grinstead |
Payout
editThe winner received a purse of $2,850. The second-place finisher received $200.[6]
References
edit- ^ Renau, Lynn S. (2001). "Kentucky Derby". In Kleber, John E. (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Louisville. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky. pp. 467–470. ISBN 0-8131-2100-0. OCLC 247857447. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ O'Connor, John L. (1921). "First Derby 1875". History of the Kentucky Derby, 1875-1921. New York: Rider Press. pp. 134–137. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ Elliot, Jessica. "Kentucky Derby Facts and History". About.com. Archived from the original on April 14, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "The First Kentucky Derby, May 17, 1875". America's Library. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "What Happened from 1870 to 1879". The People History. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
- ^ "1875 Kentucky Derby Results Tables" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2010.